Moving window display



H. s. wqLsoN MOVING WINDOW DISPLAY June 19, 1928.

Filed Sept. 5. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented June 19, 1928.

HORACE 8. WILSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOVING WINDOW DISPLAY.

Application filed September 5, 1922. Serial No. 586,059.

This invention relates to picture or sign exhibiting apparatus and pertains particularly to a display device suitable for use in a show window for presenting a changing or moving display which will be effective to attract attention through the eye.

The general purpose of the invention is the provision of apparatus of the sort indicated which is specially adapted for quantity production at very low cost, so that it will recommend itself to users of extensive advertising.

Another object is the provision of such apparatus which is adapted particularly for the utilization of attractive lithographing and in which the lithographed portions are arranged to exercise mechanical function in addition to their pictorial functions.

Another object is the provision of such apparatus which does not require a special mechanism for its operation, but which is adapted for continuous actuation by means of a small electric fan of the type nowin general use.

Another object is the rovision of a paratus of the sort specific which may e embodied in very compact form so that'fpacking and transportation thereof are acilitated and distribution of the device may be made at low cost.

A further object is the provision of apparatus of the sort specified which is adaptable to a wide variety of different displays without material alteration in its construction.

Other and further objects of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims, or obvious upon an understanding of the present disclosure.

For the purpose of this application I have shown one arrangement in which the invention may be embodied, but it is to be understood that the same is presented for illustrative purpose only and is not to be given any construction such as will tend to limit the invention which I purport to secure, short of its true and most comprehensive scope in the art.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig, 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken sub stantially on the line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2.

The advertising value of movable display devices, as compared with stationary displays, is generally recognized, but due to the relatively high cost of such devices heretofore employed, their adoption by merchandisers for the purpose of so-called national advertising has 'not been feasible. The present invention has been devised with the particular object in view of supplying a device specially qualified for use in national advertising by virtue of the low cost at which it can be produced, as thereby the merchandiser is able to purchase large quantities for distribution among retailers or dealers who supply his products tothe consumer, without requiring an outlay out of proportion to the returns which reasonably may be expected from the advertising.

For the accomplishment of this object I have devised a very simple construction which can be produced rapidly and in quantities from very inexpensive material, and which requires but little labor in assembly thereof. The nature of the invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in detail, in which it will be observed that the numeral 1 designates generally the bottom member of a frame, which member may be formed most conveniently of a wooden board, and which support at its corner portions posts2 which in turn carry a top frame member 4. All these may be formed of light and inexpensive wood and secured together by nails,

screws or glue in such relationshi that they form a narrow rectangular boxike frame adapted to stand upright upon the bottom member 1. Between the front posts extends a a front frame member 5, and between the rear posts at the top a rear frame member 6, which also may be light strips of wood. Extending downward from the rear frame member 6 and connecting with the bottom member 1 are two narrow wood or metal strips 6 and 6 the former acting as a shaft bracket and the latter acting as a rotection strip. Against the face of the a ront frame member 4 and the front edges of the top and bottom frame members and front posts is secured the lithographed display sheet 7 which may be of heavy cardboard suitably printed for the particular display. This display sheet is out out to provide the view aperture 8 occupying a position between the frame members. A pictorial portion 7 of the displa sheet extends above the margin defining t e bottom of the view aperture, so as to project into the view aperture, and this portion is cut out in outline to represent an element designed to form a part of the picture or display to be presented in the view aperture. In this instance this projecting portion is shaped to represent an automobile and is suitably printed to form the desired pictorial representation thereof. Portions of the display sheet extend inwardly from the frame members so as to cover part of the area within the frame, and within these covered areas at the ends of the frame are mounted the rollers 9 and 10. These rollers preferably are turned out of light wood and are provided at their ends with spindles 11 forming journals adapted to seat in depressions formed in the top and bottom frame members, whereby the rollers are maintained in vertical position and parallel relationship. I will designate the roller 9 as the actuated roller and the roller 10 as the idler roller. The rollers are provided with parallel circumferential flanges 12 adjacent their lower ends. Near the actuated roller a transmission shaft 14 is journalled in the front frame member 5 and rear shaft bracket 6, such shaft being in the form of a spool of light wood having a spindle 15 forming an axial journal at its front end and a spindle 15 journalled in shaft bracket 6 at its rear end. Adjacent the front end of the roller 14 a pulley or sheave 16 is turned on it, while at its rear end it affords an axially extending projection 17. At the upper margin of the front frame member 5, so as to be concealed behind the projecting portion 7 of the display sheet, is mounted a strip of metal 18 constituting a shaft bracket. Journalled in this shaft bracket and in the projecting portion 7 are display actuating shafts 19. These shafts carry at their outer ends actuated display members 20, here represented as wheels of the automobile figure formed by the projecting portion 7. Upon the rear or inner ends of the shafts 19 are mounted pulleys 23 and 21, the former having two sheaves. These pulleys may be formed conveniently as little wooden spools, and shafts 19 may be formed of nails, while the wheels 20 are disks of cardboard suitably printed on their outer sides. A light rubber band 22 is strung on the pulleys 23 and 21 forming a connecting belt for transmitting movement from the former to the latter, and a similar belt 24 connects the pulley 23 with the pulley 16 on the transmission shaft. A third rubber band 25 forms a transmission belt operably connecting the actuated roller 9 and the transmission shaft 14, said belt being guided between the flanges 12 on the roller. A light fan wheel 26 is carried on the projection 17 of the transmission shaft 14. Upon the rollers upon their rotation.

rollers 9 and 10 is stru a movable show member in the form of we 28 which carries on its outer surface a picture or marking to be displayed through the view aperture 8.

This web is maintained in position by the upper flanges 12 of the rollers and is of such length that it will be transmitted by the The subject matter of the picture or marking carried on the web 28 bears some relation to the figure formed by the pictorial portion 7 on the display sheet so that the two, when viewed in the relationship in which they are presented at the view aperture, will convey the desired impression or advertising idea.

For protection of the display portions of the device, and to facilitate packing in transportation the display sheet may be extended beyond the ends of the frame as wing portions 29 which are hinged or folded along vertical lines conforming to the ends of the frame, so that said wing portions may be folded inwardly across the lithe raphed sheet to cover the display aperture in the relationship indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the device it is set up in a show window or other display location and a small electric fan then placed behind it in such relationship as to direct its blast a ainst the actuatin wheel 26. In such disposal the fan wil? be concealed behind the device and its blast will be effective upon the wheel 26 to drive the actuating shaft 14. From this shaft movement is transmitted to the actuated roller 9 through the belt 25 to transmit the web 28, and through the belts 24 and 22 to actuate the actuated display members 20. The effect presented at the view aperture will be that of the automobile running past the panorama presented by the picture carried on the web 18.

It will be obvious that by suitable variation in the form and significance of the display sheet, as well as of the actuated displa members represented by the wheels 20 and the movable show member represente by the web 28, the device is ada ted to wide variety in the nature of the subject matter presented.

I claim:

1. In an exhibiting device, in combination, a frame, a display sheet supported at the front of the frame, said display sheet having a View aperture therethrough and a pictorial portion associated with the view aperture a movable show member mounted on the frame behind the display sheet in such relation as to have portions visible through the view aperture in association with the pictorial portion, means for transmitting movement to said movable show member to move parts thereof past the view aperture, and an actuating device housed in the frame and concealed behind the display view aperture, and a wind operable device 1 housed in the frame and concealed behind the sheet and operably connected to the actuated display member, said device operable by a blast of air from behind the sheet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto l5 subscribed my name.

HORACE S. WILSON. 

